November Reads

100.The Mapping of Love and Death (Winspear) ~ 3.75/5

101. The Story of a Marriage (Greer) ~ 3.25/5

102. The Confession (Grisham) ~ 3/5

The Fall (George) ~ 3.5/5

Flash Mob (George) ~ 4/5

Shipwrecked (George) ~ 2.5/5

103. Raven Black (Cleeves) ~ 4/5

Cyberdate.com (Savage) ~ 4/5

104. Rebecca (du Maurier) ~ 3.5/5

The Masseuse (Wohlforth) ~ 3.5/5

Deadly Detour (Mack) ~ 2.25/5

   

Short Story (not counted)

BOLD titles made my Best Reads List

Clicking on a title will link you to "Thoughts of Joy...".

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Monthly - Yearly Genre Stats:

Biography:  0 - 1 

Chick-Lit:  0 - 0

Classic:  0 - 0

Fiction:  3 - 26

Graphic Memoir:  0 - 1

Historical Fiction:  1 - 2

Memoir: 0 - 5

Mystery/Police Procedural: 1 - 25

Non-Fiction:  0 - 2

Non-Fiction Graphic Novel:  0 - 1

Science Fiction:  0 - 1

Short Story Collection:  0 - 3

Suspense/Thriller: 0 - 13

True Crime: 0 - 2

YA Classic:  0 - 0

YA Fiction:  0 - 8

YA Graphic Novel:  0 - 7

YA Manga:  0 - 1

YA Mystery:  0 - 1

YA Non-Fiction:  0 - 0

YA Science Fiction:  0 - 1

YA Short Collection:  0 - 1

YA Thriller:  0 - 1

Children's Fiction:  0 - 1

Children's Graphic Novel:  0 - 1

Children's Thriller:  0 - 0

Children's Sci-Fi/Fantasy:  0 - 0

Short Stories: 6 - 35

Audiobooks:  3 - 49

Books:  1 - 50

eBooks:  1 - 5

Total:  5 - 104

Best Reads:  0 - 7

Series:  2 - 37

DNF:  0 - 2

Deadly Detour (1 of 5)

Author: Debbi Mack

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Five Uneasy Pieces, 2010

Personal Rating: 2.25/5 (better than not enjoyable)

(ss) Yearly Count:  35

I suppose this one was about a drug deal gone bad.

The good news is that I liked the writing. The bad news is that I didn't like the overdramatized plot. Also, I didn't like the ending. Oh well. There are 4 more in this collection, so hopefully they suit me better than this one did.  

THE MASSEUSE (11 of 19)

Author: Tim Wohlforth

(Edited by Harlan Coben)

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Death Do Us Part, 2006

Personal Rating: 3.5/5 (good)

(ss) Yearly Count: 34

A masseuse offers a customer a deal he can't refuse.

I was curious as to where the story was going, so the general plot idea got my attention, but I felt that the ending wasn't very satisfying.

ORDERED TODAY!

AND  COULDN'T  BE  HAPPIER!

REBECCA

Author:  Daphne du Maurier

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  1938

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Yearly Count:  104



Maxim DeWinter, a wealthy man, marries a young woman after the death of his first wife and they reside in the prestigious Manderley.

Another classic to cross off my list!  I'm glad I read/listened to it, but I didn't find it to be outstanding.  One thing I really did enjoy was the variety of genres woven together in the plot, and the narrator did a fantastic job. Also, I enjoyed its timeless nature and the gothic feel, and can understand the classic label.   Most importantly, I love the fact that I will now understand references to Rebecca.

I'M SUPPOSED TO BE CLEANING, BUT . . .

I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT AND RESEARCHING THIS:

Oh my.  This morning, the bestest husband ever asked me if I wanted a Kindle for Christmas!  (He wouldn't mind if I chose a different eReader, but that's what he asked.)  Needless to say, my plan of cleaning has been derailed.  I have been absolutely giddy with delight!  

I have not thought about getting an eReader because I have an iPad and love, love, love it.  However, we are a gadget family (especially with Apple products) and should not be surprised by Mr. Joy's question - but, I am and I'm loving it!

I have to say that I'm leaning towards the Kindle.  Anyone want to support or convince me otherwise?  

CYBERDATE.COM (10 of 19)

Author: Tom Savage

(Edited by Harlan Coben)

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Death Do Us Part, 2006

Personal Rating: 4/5 (very good)

(ss) Yearly Count:  33

Two people meet on Cyberdate.com and form a relationship.  It is written as if you are watching the chat room conversations.

Loved the format and enjoyed watching how the relationship developed.   

RAVEN BLACK

Author: Ann Cleeves

Genre: Mystery, Series #1

Published: 2006

Personal Rating: 4/5 (very good)

Yearly Count:  103

Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez investigates the death of a teenage girl in the Shetland Islands, home of Up Helly Aa (yearly cultural celebration).

I found this to be written in an interesting, atypical fashion. One would think that the inspector would be the main character - chasing down the killer and all, (I suppose technically he was) but I didn't experience it like that. The other characters that made up the story were much more prevalent, which caused them to be the ones that I was more familiar with. It seemed as if Inspector Perez was secondary and remote; hence, he was not readily available to get to know. It wasn't a problem - just unique.  As for the setting, it had great atmosphere, and the plot was filled with many suspects.

I actually had this in my hands once I removed it from the NEW shelf at my local library in 2006. I had too many others at the time, so put it back, but have wanted to get back to it ever since. I'm thanking the ease of my eReader for this accomplishment, and I'm looking forward to the second.

SHIPWRECKED

Author: Kaye George

Genre: Short Story

Published: Dark Valentine eZine, 2010

Personal Rating: 2.5/5 (eh)

(ss) Yearly Count: 32

Someone is shipwrecked and tries to survive on an island.

This was another super short story and one that resembles too many others. There just wasn't enough substance to make it new or fresh.

FLASH MOB

Author: Kaye George

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: A Patchwork of Stories, 2010

Personal Rating: 4/5 (very good)

(ss) Yearly Count: 31

Hundreds of people get together at an appointed time to create a mob.

This story's plot contained an interesting use of the mob, and I really liked how it was told.

THE FALL

Author: Kaye George

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: A Patchwork of Stories, 2010

Personal Rating: 3.5/5 (good)

(ss) Yearly Count: 30

This short story was about domestic violence and came in at under 500 words.  It was executed well, but I have read similar plots.

THE CONFESSION

Author:  John Grisham

Genre:  Legal Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2010

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Yearly Count: 102

Donte Drumm is accused of a heinous crime and sentenced to death.  Just hours before his execution, Travis Boyette comes forward with new information with the intention of exonerating Donte.

I love John Grisham's writing even when I'm not too impressed at the end of a book - that's just how it's been since I began with The Firm.  However . . . my patience is wearing thin.  Once again, I enjoyed his writing in this book - definitely comfort reading for me, but I need more from him now.  I need the excitement and suspense that I have felt in the past.  This one actually turned into laborious reading towards the end.  I just wanted to get through it so I could move on to something else.  That has, unfortunately, modified my relationship with John Grisham.  Bummer.

THE STORY OF A MARRIAGE

Author:  Andrew Sean Greer

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2008

Personal Rating:  3.25/5  (better than just okay)

Yearly Count:  101

Pearlie, a woman in her later years, tells the story of her marriage to Holland - beginning with her childhood crush on him in the 50s.

One of the most repeated thoughts I had during my time spent with this book was "What?!?"  It applied to the thoughts and actions of all the characters throughout the book.  It wasn't a shocked "What?!?," but more like a simple questioning "What?!?"  Needless to say, that didn't help with making the story authentic.  I was able to suspend that feeling, but never truly became immersed into their lives.  I definitely wanted to know how everything was going to turn out though, so there was intrigue.

THE MAPPING OF LOVE AND DEATH

Author: Jacqueline Winspear

Genre: Historical Fiction, Series #7

Published: 2010

Personal Rating: 3.75/5 (better than good)

Yearly Count: 100

Private Investigator Maisie Dobbs is approached by the parents of a deceased WWI American soldier and is asked to locate a woman that had written their son romantic letters. As she proceeds, she discovers the death of the soldier was more profound than originally thought. And, life as Maisie knows it, will no longer be the norm.

Maisie is one of my favorite characters, so I was delighted to be back in her company. Even though there were a few defining moments in this book (and the terrific writing goes without saying), I didn't find the core story line to grab me. It was good, but it didn't have enough power to keep me deeply captivated like I have experienced in the past. Winspear still remains a front runner in my favored authors, and I eagerly await Maisie's next appearance.